CARROT OIL

CARROT OIL

Carrot Oil is a powerful tanning accelerator. It also naturally reduces the damaging effects of UV radiation. Look for carrot oil products that have a deep, golden color (not orange) and contain only vegetable or nut based oils, and no mineral oil.

Additonally, BRAZEN! carrot oil:

* Naturally contains over 600 antioxidants

* Contains no dyes, self-tanners, or mineral oil

* Will not turn your skin orange

* Will make your tan the envy of all your friends!

CARROT OIL,

THE NATURAL TREND IN SUNCARE

Kelly P. Campolo, President of South Beach Sun Quality Suncare Products

Have you been to South Beach lately? How about Myrtle Beach or South Padre Island? If so, you've likely witnessed the multitude of sun worshippers striving for that perfect bronze tan. But one might ask, how could this be when the dangers of sun exposure are so widely publicized? The answer: tan is "in" and sunscreens are perceived to eliminate the harmful effects of ultra-violet radiation (UVR). Recently though, studies show that some chemical sunscreens may not prevent the more serious adverse effects of sunning, even though they do prevent sunburn when used properly. This is a serious issue because consumers may have a false sense of security by relying only on traditional sunscreens. The greatest response to this concern is a body of research suggesting that topical use of antioxidants (specifically mixed carotenoids from natural sources) in combination with traditional sunscreens will help to protect the skin from photo-aging, sunburn and even cancer.

Despite the overwhelming evidence that exposure to UVR can lead to deadly skin cancer, nearly 60 percent of adults under the age of 25 admit that they actively seek a tan, and up to 2 million people visit tanning salons every year.¹ In the United States, skin cancer is the most prevalent form of cancer and is striking an ever-younger population. At over 700,000 new cases reported per year², skin cancer occurrences among Americans are almost equal in number to annual incidence of all other malignancies combined. Of even greater concern, it seems that some chemical sunscreens do not protect against skin cancer. In fact, recent studies indicate that users of sunscreen have an increased risk of some types of skin cancer³.

How can this brazen quest for a beautiful tan and the need for protection from UVR be reconciled? You won’t find the answer in any newly engineered chemicals. Nature holds the solution in Carrot Oil. Suncare products containing naturally extracted Carrot Oil quickly produce a beautiful golden tan and better protect the skin against the damaging effects of UVR than chemical sunscreens alone⁴.

Carrot Oil is a golden colored extract from carrots with extraordinary skin protection and conditioning benefits derived from the high quantities of oil soluble carotenoids that it contains. Carotenoids are a class of easily assimilated antioxidants, which are present in a wide range of fruits and vegetables but most abundant in carrots. Antioxidants protect human cells from harmful free-radical attack. Free-radicals are stray oxygen molecules that attack healthy cell walls and react with polyunsaturated fats to create a chain reaction of unlimited free-radical regeneration. Free-radicals are produced by a wide range of environmental pollutants, including UVR. If left unchecked by antioxidants, free-radicals damage both the structure and function of cell membranes, resulting in premature aging, cancer and an array of degenerative diseases.

Carotenoids, when either topically applied or ingested, directly reduce the damaging effects of UVR. Specifically, carotenoids have been found to enhance the body’s immune response to UVR, decreasing skin damage from ultraviolet exposure.⁵ Carotenoids have even been proven to inhibit the proliferation of various types of cancer cells.⁶ Carrots contain over 600 identified carotenoids, making them an unparalleled source of antioxidants. Carrot Oil, derived from pure carrot extract, is the most potent source of the highest concentration of carotenoids available. Suncare products with only Beta-carotene (a single carotenoid), although possibly beneficial, do not contain the wide range of antioxidants contained in Carrot Oil.

In addition to carotenoids, Carrot Oil contains other powerful antioxidants such as tocopheryl, or vitamin E. Studies have shown that topical application of vitamin E may directly reduce many harmful effects of UVR, enhance skin immunity and help heal a sunburn.⁷

Carrot Oil also acts as a natural tanning enhancer, producing a visibly golden tan in a short amount of time. The natural color of Carrot Oil is deep gold and will appear so in solutions containing effective concentrations (between 2% to 10%). Either alone or when combined with other tanning enhancers, such as tyrosine or riboflavin, suncare products containing effective concentrations of Carrot Oil provide a noticeably golden, even tan without any unwanted orange coloration.

It must be noted that the beneficial effects of Carrot Oil may be diminished if placed in a mineral oil base. Mineral oil, commonly known as baby oil, is a petroleum derivative that decreases the absorption of and depletes the body's reserves of vitamins, especially vitamin E.⁸ During exposure to UVR, this is of special concern. Of even greater concern, the World Health Organization and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services have published findings that mineral oil has been determined to cause cancer in humans.⁹ Unfortunately for the consumer, most suncare products are almost wholly comprised of mineral oil because it serves as an inexpensive base. However, there are Carrot Oil suncare products available that do not contain mineral oil.

In summary, Carrot Oil used in combination with topical sunscreens provides more optimal protection against skin cancer and photo aging than chemical sunscreens alone. In order to maximize the positive effects, look for Carrot Oil products that expressly do not contain mineral oil and that have a deep golden color upon application to the skin. Analysis of the Florida suncare market shows that there is widespread demand for products containing Carrot Oil. Although price points for Carrot Oil products are higher than traditional suncare products, consumers appear more than willing to pay for the added benefits.

References:

Schweitzer, C., "Natural Mixed Carotenoids Provide ‘Inside-Outside’ Sun Protection," DCI, 40-44, Dec. 1997.

² "Skin Cancer – An Undeclared Epidemic," American Academy of Dermatology, June 1998; http://tray.dermatology.uiowa.edu /PIPs/SkinCa.html.

³ Garland, C.F. , et al. "Could Sunscreens Increase Melanoma Risk?" American Journal of Public Health, 82: 614-15, 1992. McGregor, J.M., Young, A.R., "Sunscreens, suntans and skin cancer," BMJ, v.312; n. 7047: 1621-2, June 29, 1996. Aesoph, L., "A Holistic Approach to Skin Protection," Nutrition Science News, April 1998; http://www.nutritionsciencenews.com.

⁴ See generally, Aesoph and "Carotenoids: What they are and what they do," Carotenoid Online Factbook, 1998; http://www.VERIS-nline.org/cawhtfbk.htm.

⁵ Bendich, A., Journal of Nutrition, 119: 112-115, Jan. 1989. Gollnick, H., et all. "Systemic beta carotene plus topical UV sunscreen are an optimal protection against harmful effects of natural UV-sunlight: results of the Berlin-Eilath study," European Journal of Dermatology, 6:200-205, 1996.

⁶ Id. See also, Zimmerman, M., "Phytochemicals: Nutrients of the Future"; http://www.realtime.net/anr/ phytonu.html. See also, The Carotenoids Page; http://dcb-carot.unibe.ch/funct2.htm.

⁷ Gensler, H.L. & Magdaleno, M. "Topical vitamin E inhibition of immunosuppression and tumorigenesis induced by ultraviolet irradiation," Nutrition and Cancer, 15: 97-106, 1991. Trevithick, J.R., et al. "Topical tocopheryl acetate reduces post-UVB, sunburn-associated erythema, edema and skin sensitivity in hairless mice," Arch Bioc Biophysics, 296: 575-82, Aug. 1, 1992. See also, Aesoph.

⁸ "Vitamin E – Drug Interactions," VERIS Online; http://www.VERIS-online.org/cgi-bin/fulldisp.prl?/drgitefb.htm.

⁹ International Agency for Research on Cancer, World Health Organization, Monograph Vols. 1-60, 1972-1994 and Supp. 7, 1987; U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services, National Toxicology Program, 6^th Annual Report on Carcinogens, 1991, http://www.ozemail.com.au/~paulr/cancer.html. Mineral Oil has been determined to be a Category One carcinogen. Category One is for substances (such as arsenic, asbestos, and tobacco products) for which there is sufficient evidence for a causal relationship with cancer in humans, i.e. a confirmed human carcinogen.